Can a Steel Boom Revive This Rural American County?

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MISSISSIPPI COUNTY, Ark.—In recent years, this vast county in the Mississippi Delta has transformed itself into one of the largest U.S. hubs for steel production and reliable, well-paying steel work. Lately, it has shifted to an even harder task: getting those workers to move there.

Fueled by billions of dollars in investments from U.S. Steel and other manufacturers, Mississippi County is on track to produce 12 million tons of steel each year, putting it second in production capacity just behind Northwest Indiana, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. Since 2022, about 1,500 jobs have been created in steel and related industries, according to county estimates. President Trump’s tariffs on foreign steel could stoke demand for even more.

But the boom has yet to revive the towns that dot the county’s rural landscape, or even boost its population. Many steelworkers still see the county as too remote and rural to live in, so they choose to commute long distances every day, often from neighboring states. Others keep homes out of state and live in recreational vehicles near the mills during their dayslong shifts. U.S. Steel estimates about 38% of its employees in the county reside there.

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“We used to have churches but now they’re almost all empty,” said Clif Chitwood, the county’s economic-development officer. “There’s been just a collapse of the whole social structure.”

Now, the county is leveraging its steel boom to push a host of initiatives to increase its population and shore up its economic base. The chief program, called “Work Here. Live Here,” offers home buyers money toward down payments on new or existing property, as long as they live and work in the county for four years. The goal, according to Chitwood, is to create a cluster of vibrant towns throughout the county, similar to an industrial era when factories were centerpieces of flourishing communities. The vision echoes that of Trump, who has pitched his sweeping tariff plan as a way to boost U.S. manufacturing and revive old industrial hubs.

Whether the push will succeed is an open question. The housing program is expanding and starting to bring in new residents, according to Chitwood. A Holiday Inn and a few coffee shops and restaurants have opened in Osceola, Ark., where U.S. Steel’s Big River facilities are located.

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Big industrial companies such as U.S. Steel or General Motors once helped launch hospitals and schools to anchor their communities. Today, manufacturers operate on slimmer margins, giving them less leeway to contribute to the community, Jebaraj said. Companies might contribute donations or sponsor local initiatives but generally shy away from the larger commitments.

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